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These prop cutters may cut a line or not. But they don't work in all the cases!
If you have a fouled prop AND a sahft cutters, then this is potential dangerous; you might cut your hand when trying to clear your prop.

Also it induces drag when sailing.

Been there, done that. Needed stitches MILES from the nearest place that could do it. They DO NOT always work, trust me I have the scar to prove it..

09-09-2009 06:26 AM

bartvdv

These prop cutters may cut a line or not. But they don't work in all the cases!
If you have a fouled prop AND a sahft cutters, then this is potential dangerous; you might cut your hand when trying to clear your prop.

Also it induces drag when sailing.

09-09-2009 03:44 AM

Ilenart

We have lots of lobster / cray pots along our coast and on a recent trip involving 17 boats, one boat snagged a pot (which also damaged his prop shaft). Best advice is to keep a wetsuit and a sharp knife and be prepared to go for a swim if necessary.

Ilenart

09-06-2009 09:53 AM

RobGallagher

It's not a rig, it's a product you can purchase that goes around your prop shaft. Kind of like a zinc with cutting edges. As your prop shaft spins it should cut the line.
More for power boats IMHO. Not even sure if my old Atomic 4 generates enough torque to cut the line before it stalls.

I know this is of no help but I just want say I hate crab lines.
One guy put his lines right across my whole marina, I wanted to hook his line and drag it out to the bay. They also snag my fishing lures. Hey Mike could you explain how to rig that Knife thing.

08-17-2009 03:08 PM

norsearayder

okay after nearly 2000miles in the middle of the maine lobster industry,ive snagged 1 and slammed 2 pot buoys[with motor ,didnt snag] always be on the watch for them but really no problem day or nite

08-17-2009 01:10 PM

MIKEMCKEE

Rob,
You might want to look at a item that you put on your shaft ahead of you screw that act's like a spinning knife that would cut the lines of those crab pots. I sail in the Chesapeake Bay and meny of it's off shoots and yes they can be a pain, htere supposed to be put out of the normal shipping chennels in the various waterways but you and I know, there going to fudge on those areas all the time.

Good Luck,

Mike

08-16-2009 02:02 PM

Bilgewater

I'm on the west coast so it's a bit different here. We need to avoid prawn & crab gear. Crab gear is usually set in depths under 60' or so. Prawn gear is usually set between 300 & 400'. I prawn and crab myself and I get to know most of the good spots, so I avoid those when night sailing and I usually sail in depths over 500'. In the summer I am much more careful because the tourists are up here dropping gear in odd locations and depths because they simply don't know any better. When I'm coming on a bay or area where I know a lot of transients & tourists group together, I'm extremely watchful because they tend to put them anywhere just outside their anchorages. When I'm motoring into a bay I don't cut corners as I would during the day, I stay in the middle of the entrance. But basically I just hope for the best and I have my wet suite on board if something goes wrong. At least when sailing the line won't wrap around your prop shaft a million times and you may be able to hook onto it, pull it up and cut it.

08-16-2009 11:01 AM

RobGallagher

Night Sailing/motoring and Lobster Pots

I've been sailing now for a few years and single hand my 30' with confindence in most conditions. I've learned that careful planning and common sense = good luck.

Since I often sail with crew that have limited/no experience I have also learned that even with a crew of four, I'm still single handing.

One thing I have trouble with is the fear of the evil lobster pot bouy. I sail in New England so there are plenty of them out there, even in the deeper waters of Block Island Sound. Some of them are forced two feet under when the currents are running strong.

I've known people to snag them in their prop even when they are NOT motoring. I snagged on in the harness of my dingy one evening, an easy fix once I figured out the problem, but it was dark and it took some time and a bit of stressing to figure out why we slowed to 2 knots.

So, how to avoid them at night without constantly scanning the water with a light? Or just don't worry about them and leave your chances to fate?